This is from Bob Schaeffer at FairTest, as usual:
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How much more evidence do policy makers need before they recognize that test-and-punish policies have failed? Learning gains have stagnated, progress toward closing the “achievement gap” has stalled, and their constituents increasingly reject the strategy. Even some of their strongest newspaper editorial page allies — including the New York Times and Los Angeles Times — are saying that it is time to look at alternative approaches. Enough is enough!
http://www.aft.org/newspubs/press/2013/072213b.cfm
Standardized Tests Take Over the School Day
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/07/23/1225947/-Standardized-tests-take-over-the-school-day#
High-Stakes Testing Leads to Increased Incarceration
http://www.therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=10458
See FairTest Infographic “How High-Stakes Testing Feeds the School-to-Prison Pipeline
http://fairtest.org/pipeline-infographic
Support for Common Core Testing Declines Dramatically
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/07/common-core-academic-standards-94628.html
see FairTest fact sheet: Common Core Assessments: More Tests But Not Much Better
http://fairtest.org/common-core-assessments-more-tests-not-much-better
ACLU Sues Rhode Island Over Grad Test Requirement
http://www.providencejournal.com/breaking-news/content/20130723-r.i.-aclu-plans-to-announce-lawsuit-over-necap-graduation-requirement.ece
Florida School Grading System a “Politically Manipulated Scam”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/07/19/floridas-change-to-school-rating-system-called-scam/
Convoluted School Grading System Fails. Yet Jeb Bush’s Disciples Are Pushing It in Other States
http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/columns/convoluted-school-grading-system-fails-all/2131954
Erase to the Top: Tainted Philadelphia Scores Demonstrate Flaws of Test-Driven School “Reform”
http://www.citypaper.net/cover_story/Erase_to_the_Top.html
Widespread Test Cheating at New Orleans Charters and “Reconstruction” Schools
http://www.nola.com/education/index.ssf/2013/07/state_documents_detail_standar.html
Oklahoma (and Indiana) Seek Test-Company Penalties for Exam Screw-ups
http://newsok.com/oklahoma-educators-need-to-get-beyond-testing-troubles/article/3865122
Why Are Texas Test-Takers Being Held More Accountable Than Test-Makers
http://blog.chron.com/txpotomac/2013/07/commentary-amid-school-testing-scandal-why-are-test-takers-being-held-more-accountable-than-test-makers/
Standardized Testing’s Casualties — another excellent Letter to the Editor
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/letters/la-le-0721-sunday-standardized-tests-20130721,0,6581072.story
Minnesota Plans K-12 Testing “Without the Tears and Trauma”
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/07/18/daily-circuit-state-testing
Focus on Test Scores Misses the Point on Urban Education
http://www.ctpost.com/opinion/article/Ann-Evans-de-Bernard-Focus-on-test-scores-misses-4662379.php
State Testing Makes Kids Hate School
http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/article/20120527/LIFESTYLE/205270316/Drat-State-testing-makes-bright-kids-hate-school
Students Tell Policy-Makers: Stop Corporate Ed “Reform” and High-Stakes Testing
http://www.students4ourschools.org/educationrevolution.html
Key School “Reform” Questions Beg for Answers
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/07/18/key-questions-begging-for-answers-about-school-reform/
Five Basic Lessons on Public Education
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/07/19/five-basic-lessons-on-public-education-short-and-long-versions/
New Books on Assessment Reform
“The Mismeasure of Education” — http://www.infoagepub.com/products/The-Mismeasure-of-Education
“Left Behind in the Race to the Top” — http://www.infoagepub.com/products/Left-Behind-in-the-Race-to-the-Top
Bob Schaeffer, Public Education Director
FairTest: National Center for Fair & Open Testing
ph- (239) 395-6773 fax- (239) 395-6779
cell- (239) 699-0468
web- http://www.fairtest.org
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